The National Industrial Court of Nigeria has found the Nigerian soccer league, the federation (NFF), the match commissioner and the club of Chineme Martins' negligent for the player's death in March 2020.
Nigerian Court finds club and football federation negligent of Chineme Martins’ death
Nigeria fans wait for the beginning of the soccer Confederations Cup group B match between Nigeria and Uruguay at Fonte Nova stadium in Salvador, Brazil, June 20, 2013.
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This is according to a statement by world football players’ union FIFPRO said on Thursday.
Martins collapsed and died while playing for Nasarawa United in a league match in March 2020. He was 25.
The court ruling said it was “reprehensible” that Martins was allowed to play without complete medical tests and without the provision of adequate medical facilities at Lafia Township Stadium.
It has ordered the club to compensate Martins’ family.
“The court has spoken and ruled that Nasarawa United, the league management company and the NFF did not take into consideration my brother’s safety, health and welfare which contributed to his death,” Martins’ brother Michael said.
“I hope that the appropriate medical provisions are put in place for Nigeria’s footballers going forward, so that no family has to endure the pain we have suffered," he continued.
A report published on the NFF website that year highlighted that Nasarawa United had neither a medical doctor nor a physiotherapist at the game and that there was no functional ambulance at the stadium at the time of the incident.
Moreover, Martins never underwent an echocardiogram at the start of each of his three seasons with the club.
FIFPRO lawyers helped Martins’ family to pursue the claim of negligence.